can't decide

dougie · 01-07-2004, 11:54 PM

OK! let me start by saying this is by far the best site I have been in. You guys really hook it up with good info. "much tanks"

Well I started with my 40gal reef with fish aquarium about 8 months ago and its has been going pretty good. I currently have a skilter 400 doing my filtretion and a maxijet 900 doing the water movement. I also have about 30lbs of live rock and 20lbs of live sand, my lighting is by a PC jalli a18 7100k d/l bulb and a 55w actinic blue bulb.

But of course the addiction is making me think about up grading to a 75 or a 100 gal tank. Now my question is, should I invest better in a acrylic tank that has the wet/dry filter and skimmer already built into it. Or should I just set up my own sump. (I really don't have any room to do fancy plumbing, so it would have to be a real simple one)

Can you guys give me some pro's and con's about both types?

mnreefman · 01-08-2004, 12:13 AM

BIGGER IS ALWAYS BETTER

seriously id upgrade if i were in your shoes...

dougie · 01-08-2004, 12:21 AM

so the tank with the built in filter and skimmer
is better?
then having it under the tank

fidojoe · 01-08-2004, 12:24 AM

I thibk the built in ones are not as good, you would want to remove the wetdry that they have, and you don't get the added water volume with the sump under the tank.

Playa · 01-08-2004, 12:30 AM

I think size or shape of the tank has a lot to do with what kind of marine life will inhabit it.

As a general rule I believe is best that a reef have fairly good width, so that proper water flow becomes more feasible. I personally dont like wetdry filter systems. You could go to your LFS and have them custom build you a sump. You might want to have a small refugium built in also.

If your budget allows you to buy a skimmer, then you could do without the refugium(for lack of space) and just place your skimmer in the sump.

Amiracle makes some nice sumps with refugiums.
http://www.amiracle.com

If you are considering a 75 or a 100, upgrade just a little more and get a 120(great size tank and optimum shape, when considering an SPS reef)

Main advantage of a custom built sump is the option of building any size to suit needs due to room availability.

Doug there are many reefers that still run a Wetdry filtration systems, but numbers decrease every day.

JMHO

sorcerer · 01-08-2004, 12:35 AM

I agree with Fidojoe, the tanks I have looked at with built in sumps and wet/dry filters all seem pretty limiting. IMO you are much better off with a seperate sump. Another factor for me would be that I don't really like acrylic tanks as they tend to scratch to easy.

I would suggest that you look at a 75 or 100 reef ready with built in overflows. That will make some of the plumbing tasks easier. JMO.

BoomerD · 01-08-2004, 12:37 AM

Dougie, since you're in the l.a. area, you have good access to Jeff's exotic pets. They make custom sumps, sell aquariums of all sizes, and one of the better protein skimmers, the SouthBay. It's a EuroReef knock-off, at a considerably better price.
115 W Victoria St., Gardena, CA 90248
1-888-442-3474 - 310-817-1176
Jeff's Exotic Fish
Great guy, nice store from all I've heard & from the pics I've seen, decent prices. Stop by & take a look, and be sure to ask lots of questions!
Remember, the only bad question, is the one you didn't ask

dougie · 01-08-2004, 12:41 AM

(still learning)good stuff, thanks!
so I'm going to hold off a little longer
and go for a 120gal with a sump and skimmer inside

Playa · 01-08-2004, 12:46 AM

Doug a 120 is an awesome size for a reef.

Make sure to take your time planning your new reef.

Best of luck and please feel free to ask more questions. And yes I am also an advocate of glass versus scratch, I mean Acrylic.:-)

dougie · 01-08-2004, 12:58 AM

THANK YOU
im sure I'll have more Q's

01-07-2004, 11:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
dougie Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, C.A Posts: 10 View Gallery Karma Komment	can't decide OK! let me start by saying this is by far the best site I have been in. You guys really hook it up with good info. "much tanks" Well I started with my 40gal reef with fish aquarium about 8 months ago and its has been going pretty good. I currently have a skilter 400 doing my filtretion and a maxijet 900 doing the water movement. I also have about 30lbs of live rock and 20lbs of live sand, my lighting is by a PC jalli a18 7100k d/l bulb and a 55w actinic blue bulb. But of course the addiction is making me think about up grading to a 75 or a 100 gal tank. Now my question is, should I invest better in a acrylic tank that has the wet/dry filter and skimmer already built into it. Or should I just set up my own sump. (I really don't have any room to do fancy plumbing, so it would have to be a real simple one) Can you guys give me some pro's and con's about both types?

01-08-2004, 12:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
mnreefman Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,393 View Gallery Karma Komment	BIGGER IS ALWAYS BETTER seriously id upgrade if i were in your shoes... __________________ http://reefrock.com

01-08-2004, 12:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
fidojoe Fish Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,581 View Gallery Karma Komment	I thibk the built in ones are not as good, you would want to remove the wetdry that they have, and you don't get the added water volume with the sump under the tank. __________________ *Member "Crabs Are Evil" Society* My Tank: 90g AGA, 18g tall sump, CSS 220 w/ meshmod impeller, 4x54w Tek T5 retro w/ IC reflectors, Kalk reactor w/ aquamedic niveaumat system, a few SPS, LPS, zoos, and a few softies, 2 Ocellaris Clowns (hosted by both a RBTA and GBTA), Yellow Watchman, Potter's angel, Yellow Tang, Foxface, Midas Blenny, Purple Pseudo, huge brittle star, 2 tigertail cukes, fire shrimp, snails, and unfortunately two emerald crabs (the bubble algae got out of control).

01-08-2004, 12:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
sorcerer Court Computer Wiz Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nashville,TN Posts: 252 View Gallery Karma Komment	I agree with Fidojoe, the tanks I have looked at with built in sumps and wet/dry filters all seem pretty limiting. IMO you are much better off with a seperate sump. Another factor for me would be that I don't really like acrylic tanks as they tend to scratch to easy. I would suggest that you look at a 75 or 100 reef ready with built in overflows. That will make some of the plumbing tasks easier. JMO. __________________ ------------ walt --------------------- ...and I thought woodworking was an expensive hobby..... 75G Oceanic Reef Tank, 30G Acrylic sump, 12G fuge, AquaC EV-120 skimmer, AquaMedic Kalkwasser Reactor, Mag 12 return pump, FlexiFlow dosing pump. 2-250W AB 10,000K MH, 2 95W Actinic VHO Sorcerer's Home Office Reef - 12G JBJ Nanocube, Minijet 606 pump, 50W heater, 12lbs LR ----------- http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner4.gif

01-08-2004, 12:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
dougie Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, C.A Posts: 10 View Gallery Karma Komment	so the tank with the built in filter and skimmer is better? then having it under the tank

01-08-2004, 12:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
Playa Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, FL Posts: 1,451 View Gallery Karma Komment	I think size or shape of the tank has a lot to do with what kind of marine life will inhabit it. As a general rule I believe is best that a reef have fairly good width, so that proper water flow becomes more feasible. I personally dont like wetdry filter systems. You could go to your LFS and have them custom build you a sump. You might want to have a small refugium built in also. If your budget allows you to buy a skimmer, then you could do without the refugium(for lack of space) and just place your skimmer in the sump. Amiracle makes some nice sumps with refugiums. http://www.amiracle.com If you are considering a 75 or a 100, upgrade just a little more and get a 120(great size tank and optimum shape, when considering an SPS reef) Main advantage of a custom built sump is the option of building any size to suit needs due to room availability. Doug there are many reefers that still run a Wetdry filtration systems, but numbers decrease every day. JMHO

01-08-2004, 12:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,632 View Gallery Karma Komment	Dougie, since you're in the l.a. area, you have good access to Jeff's exotic pets. They make custom sumps, sell aquariums of all sizes, and one of the better protein skimmers, the SouthBay. It's a EuroReef knock-off, at a considerably better price. 115 W Victoria St., Gardena, CA 90248 1-888-442-3474 - 310-817-1176 Jeff's Exotic Fish Great guy, nice store from all I've heard & from the pics I've seen, decent prices. Stop by & take a look, and be sure to ask lots of questions! Remember, the only bad question, is the one you didn't ask

01-08-2004, 12:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
dougie Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, C.A Posts: 10 View Gallery Karma Komment	(still learning)good stuff, thanks! so I'm going to hold off a little longer and go for a 120gal with a sump and skimmer inside

01-08-2004, 12:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
Playa Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, FL Posts: 1,451 View Gallery Karma Komment	Doug a 120 is an awesome size for a reef. Make sure to take your time planning your new reef. Best of luck and please feel free to ask more questions. And yes I am also an advocate of glass versus scratch, I mean Acrylic.:-)

01-08-2004, 12:58 AM	#10 (permalink)
dougie Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, C.A Posts: 10 View Gallery Karma Komment	THANK YOU im sure I'll have more Q's

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